Volume 16, Issue 5.1 — March 7, 2018
|
Industry News Control & Signal Processing Digital Signage Audio Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
|
|
|
THE ISE 2018 Awards Are Announced
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
You can’t enter a product in them.
You can’t ask us to nominate you.
And, you can’t get an award by advertising or sponsoring us or paying for it. And, there are NO Awards entry fees!
We sent reporters to EVERY booth/stand at ISE 2018 and we selected the TOP products in every possible product category for our 2018 Best of ISE Awards. No other publication — or entity for that matter — goes to very booth at the ISE show and sees every new product demo’d or launched at ISE in Amsterdam annually — so these are THE BEST of THE BEST.
So, if you are wondering which products were the best at ISE and outperformed the others in their respective categories, this is it: the 2018 Best of ISE Awards. And if you are a manufacturer who won an award, be proud! You were hand-selected by our editors and reporters after evaluating every new product shown at ISE in your product category. We didn’t just pick these “on the show floor” during the show or by using spec-sheets distributed prior to the show — we picked these by actually looking at each and every product and comparing them to the competition. In fact, this is why it took us en entire month to award these… You truly are the BEST of ISE!
Finally, as the ISE show is really four shows in one — it’s a HomeAV show, a ProAV show, a Digital Signage show and Rental & Staging show — we’ve decided to separate the awards into different categories, based on their application. So, for 2018, there are five awards categories:
Conferencing, Collaboration & Meeting Rooms: The biggest trend in meetings rooms is collaboration and collaboration include both wired and wireless system, video, audio and far-site connectivity. This category of the Best of ISE products serves every aspect of the typical meeting room or huddle room space:
Network AV & Signal Distribution: Everything’s going AV-over-IP — but not quite yet. This category includes both AV-over-IP products as well as other ways of getting signals from source to display:
Digital Signage & Public Spaces: The fastest growing segment of AV over the past half-dozen years to so been digital signage. So, it makes sense for this to have its own category of award-winning products:
Rental, Staging & Live Events: If you’re one of the 30,000 or so AV’ers in the rental, staging or live events markets, you’ll love this category of new award-winning ISE products aimed specifically at making your job easier or adding to the wow-factor of your application:
Education and Installed Large Venue Products: These are, exactly as it’s titled, new products at ISE that were aimed specifically at the education and large venue (lecture halls and auditoriums) markets. So, if you design, sell or integrate AV technology aimed at the education segment of AV, you’ll want to check out these award-winning ISE products aimed at learning environments or giant rooms:
Overall Winners: This category of winners represent the best of the best at ISE 2018. These are the 28 best new products at ISE 2018 that work for any and every application of AV:
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
The Non-AV-AV Is Getting to Be Bigger than the AV Parts of AV
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
Since the introduction of the plethora of collaboration boards launched February at ISE, I’ve noticed a troubling and concerning trend: In some segments of AV, the non-AV’ers are doing more AV than the AV’ers are doing.
What the heck do I mean?
Well, let’s take the huddle space as an example. At first, the AV market didn’t even notice what was going on there and traditional furniture companies were actually installing and integrating AV into these so-called huddle spaces. Then came the AV products aimed at huddle spaces — products like the Biamp Devio, the Microsoft Surface Hub, the Collaborate line from ClearOne and the Logitech MeetUp camera. AV’ers didn’t really take to these products — but all the while, IT’ers, tech managers and facility managers at corporations loved them. So, they bought them online from CDW and other Internet retailers. In many cases, they integrated the products themselves.
All of a sudden, we have an entire market — branded as the huddle room market — that’s more non-AV than AV. A far greater number of non-AV companies specify and install these than AV companies.
But, it didn’t just happen in huddle spaces — that was just the low-hanging fruit for me to pick on. The it happened in the collaboration board market, too. Nearly 75 percent of the collaboration boards sold in 2017 were sold or integrated through non-AV companies.
Is AV so busy as to not have noticed this alarming trend? Or are they just writing that segment off as too hang-and-bang’y?
I hope it’s not the latter. I see the same thing happening in AV-over-IP — although this won’t happen overnight — or even in just a year. But it’s clear that well over 50 percent of the current installs of AV-overIP systems were done without touching an AV integrator and significant chunk — likely in the realm of 25 percent — were totally driven by the clients themselves. Meaning, the university didn’t just ask for it, but actually specified it and integrated it themselves — on their own.
On a positive note, there’s plenty of AV to go around. The market is growing faster than it has in a decade and the amount of new technologies and products has eclipsed the mid-1990s golden-era of AV. But, do we really want to totally give away a segment of the market as important as the AV-over-IP revolution? Not to mention the exploding huddle space segment of meeting rooms?
Did I forget to mention how nearly no AV integrators are spec’ing Zoom Rooms? Sure, you can argue that’s as non-AV as any AV space, but these things are filled with AV products such as collaboration boards form Avocor and cameras galore. And, by the way, these aren’t $300 USB cameras. Most are integrating MeetUps or newbies like the Panacast 2 4K-resolution camera. And now I’m hearing from Cisco that we’re not even selling many of the Spark Rooms even though we sold the client on the Spark Platform in the first case.
What’s next? LEDs?
There’s no question that in the early days of the huddle space, there wasn’t much money it it. There were only $300 cameras and table-top audio systems — but now we have high-quality 4K camera and audio systems like the Nureva HDL-300 that place over 8,000 virtual microphones in a room. These are all products that are screaming “install me,” even in small spaces, and will add a significant upgrade to both the A and the V in AV.
Back to AV-over-IP. I’ve been doing a ton of research on that market in preparation for my 2018 speaking tour — it’s all about AV-over-IP and the opportunities that technology is going to bring us all in 2018. Everyone — and I mean everyone — will have it by the end of this year. But will you be ready to sell it? Will you assume it’s too low-end or too network-centric or too IP for AV? I hope not as not only would I like to see us take back the collaboration board and huddle space markets, I’d love to see us become IP-enablers and help guide the adoption of AV-over-IP. This is critical, I believe, as AV-over-IP is all about TRADEOFFS. There is no perfect solution. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s very application- and situation-dirven. In reality, it’s totally a consultative-selling approach to AV integration. It’s a money tree! Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
Designing for Access
By Hope Roth I recently had the privilege of working with a client who has very real and very serious vision problems. I say it was a privilege because every time I work with someone who wants something beyond my standard touch panel design, I learn from it. Looking at a touch panel through a client’s eyes (in this case, squinting in an attempt to do this literally), my designs get better and I get better.
Sitting at a table with someone and saying, “Can you read this text? How is the contrast on this page?” could potentially take hours — which is why I make my touch panels as object-oriented as possible. If the client asks for a particular type of text to go from blue (pretty!) to white (so much more readable!) and you find yourself opening up more than one subpage to fix it? I hate to break it to you, but you didn’t design your panel very well. That first subpage took a minute, but once I understood more clearly (pun intended) what my client was looking for (pun also intended), I was able to anticipate her needs going forward and it was a quick update after that.
I also wrote a script to update all of my touch panels at once. I do this for every job where I have more than a panel or two. Even if it takes some time to put together, I will get all of that time back (and then some!) when updating an entire house is as simple is file -> open -> start script. It’s a happy client who hears, “all of your panels look like that now, don’t worry, we’re using that larger font everywhere.”
The secret to real estate might be location, but the secrets to a friendly touch panel are font-size and contrast. You can never have too much of either. Those little pops of color on a panel are awfully pretty, but not at the expense of legibility. Keep your fonts simple, but bold. I knew to avoid reds and greens (for anyone who might be color blind), but I had never really squinted at one of my panels before. I’ll be squinting at them all from now on.
To get your fonts and buttons larger, you might need to sacrifice some screen real estate. This is especially true for smaller panels. I ended up deleting quite a few buttons that the client didn’t really need, in order to make room to enlarge everything else. This is where it pays to know your client, and exactly what functionality they can’t live without.
At the end of our updates, we had a panel that was easier to read, more intuitive to use, and that the client was pleased with. And it even looked nicer than we started! You don’t have to sacrifice to aesthetics to make a panel that anyone can read. The next time a client tries to use a panel when they can’t find their glasses, they will truly thank you for it. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Futuresource Says Interactive Flat Panel Display Sales Grew 16% in 2017Interactive Flat Panels (IFPDs) continued to be a considerable success in 2017 in the education and corporate markets. By Q4, 73 percent of all interactive display sales were IFPDs. The growth has been prodigious, with a CAGR of 48 percent from 2013 to 2017 and growth is forecast to continue. The interactive whiteboard (IWB), the original technology, is in decline but still contributes a significant volume. US had over 50 percent annual IFPD volume and value growth, with rapid transition to larger size IFPDs, well over half of sales are now over 70”. Over 2/3rds of US classrooms now have an interactive display, and the level of growth is forecast to continue.
Previously, this market had been dominated by education, and specifically the K-12 market. The corporate meeting room market has remained an almost untapped market, but the scale of the opportunity is vast, with 32 million corporate meeting rooms globally and well under one million displays installed to date. “The entrance of Microsoft, Google and Cisco is starting to change the industry dynamic, says Colin Messenger, senior market analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “These providers are leveraging their existing channel and user relationships and promoting ‘all-in-one’ meeting room solutions. The volume of interactive displays sold into the corporate market expanded over 30 percent in 2017.”
New interactive touch technologies such as FlatFrog in-glass technology is used by, at least, five major brands and provides a very impressive and highly accurate touch experience. Dell, NEC, HiteVision and Viewsonic are all adding the technology to their high-end ranges. Projective Capacitive (PCAP) technology, often found in the mobile device industry, is also starting to appear; Microsoft’s Surface Hub and Cisco’s Spark Board both have PCAP. With no frame, as the glass goes to edge, it provides better aesthetics, as well as high accuracy and faster speed of writing.
There is a trend towards more display personalisation. This is very useful for a teacher or corporate user moving between classroom/meeting rooms who can set up the display to a pre-set height, content and configurations via biometric fingerprint reader or NFC card.
“Display sizes are increasing, 70” + screens are taking over from 60” and 84” screens are being replaced with 86” versions. This shift is being driven by panel manufacturers moving to new lines with more efficient processes, leading to less wastage and an increased number of panels during production. Also, bezels are becoming narrower, so the actual visible screen real estate is bigger,” adds Messenger.
4K and multi-touch is now standard with most offerings, at least ten touch points. Panel providers are rapidly transitioning large screen sizes (60”+) to 4K from 1080p.
Futuresource has published a 90 page report examines the current state of the interactive display market across 67 countries, exploring market segmentation, drivers and barriers as well as detailed five-year forecasts. You can buy it here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Wireless Presentation Solutions Market to See 16 Percent CAGRThe Wireless Presentation Solutions Global Market Report reveals that sales of WPS, which is a segment of the rapidly evolving meeting and classroom collaboration market, grew 35 percent from 2016 to 2017, accounting for over $480 million in revenues, with further growth forecast in the short to medium term.
“The opportunities available in this space are vast,” says Anthony Brennan, research analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “There is growing demand in corporate and education markets for increased content sharing from a range of mobile devices to a main display. However, evolving end-user demands and the entrance of vendors from a wide range of backgrounds pose a significant threat to established WPS hardware companies.”
Although the dedicated WPS hardware segment, led by Barco ClickShare, is predicted to grow throughout the forecast period, with a 2017-2022 CAGR of 16 percent, ASPs are forecast to decline, as the market shifts to entry level solutions and competition intensifies. WPS vendors face a growing threat from an array of product categories, which are integrating wireless screen sharing as a secondary feature. In addition, the longer-term adoption of software-based solutions is expected to impact sales of proprietary hardware as the market matures. Futuresource forecasts that competition across product categories will escalate moving forwards, bringing new vendors to the segment and posing a unique threat to the make-up of the market.
Despite this, the outlook for dedicated WPS hardware solutions remains healthy in the short to mid-term, with demand for sharing content from multiple devices in meeting and classrooms growing. This is particularly evident in Western Europe and North America, where volumes are most concentrated. China presents an anomaly in the worldwide market, with the country dominated by domestic players and international brands struggling to gain a foothold. The role of low-cost solutions coming from China adds even more pressure to this rapidly changing market.
In a unique industry first, this report sizes and profiles the global WPS category, providing detailed market sizing, brand share analysis and forecasting for hardware-based commercial grade wireless presentation solutions in B2B markets.
The report also forecasts market growth of competing technologies and discusses the developments in software based WPS and trends in the integration of wireless presentation capabilities as a feature into other meeting and classroom hardware. In addition, the report offers an overview of the competitive landscape providing key vendor profiling and shipment information. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Why AVI Systems Purchased Magenium Solutions AVI Systems announced today that it has acquired Magenium Solutions, a Chicago-based technology services provider that brings vast expertise in Microsoft competencies to hundreds of companies nationwide.
Magenium Solutions: Now “Powered By AVI”
Commenting on Magenium’s future as a company “Powered By AVI,” Tim Traxinger, managing director and co-founder of Magenium Solutions, said, “This is a union of kindred companies. As a 100 percent ESOP organization, AVI provides fertile ground for its employees to prosper. AVI has a stellar reputation as a client-centric leader in this kinetic business landscape.”
Magenium Solutions will continue operating from its headquarters in Glen Ellyn, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. The company will retain all employees. AVI will grow its technical team by almost 50 professionals focused on bringing Microsoft solutions to a rapidly growing client base. Tim Traxinger and fellow Managing Director Tom LaMantia will be joining the AVI Systems Leadership Team.
So, still, why? Here’s what CEO, Jeff Stoebner told me:
Because our customers have been asking for deeper Microsoft integration skills, Office 365, Skype for Business, Azure integration, BI and so on. While we’ve been adding this skillset in our business over the past couple years, we just couldn’t do it fast enough, the demand is out pacing our ability to staff to it — so we committed to finding an amazing company to join to AVI. We found that with Magenium Solutions. I’m proud that this 50 person + team will become “employee owners” alongside AVI’s 600 professionals. We will rapidly add more IT solutions pro’s to this team. So happy to have the entire leadership team from Magenium joining AVI as well — we will make magic happen together.
This is the second company we’ve added in the past six months (see Dascom Systems last fall). If you watch our industry, you will see active consolidation happening right now. AVI’s plan for its shareholders (who happen to be our employees) is to use acquisition to add competency to AVI, to position us to be more valuable to our customers. Our two recent acquisitions matter more than those where AV companies buy other AV companies that look the same — just to be bigger. We subscribe to Warren Buffets methodology of value creation: building companies that will be terrifically valuable over the long haul. AVI has never made decisions to “position us to be sold,” or “to make a quarter,” and we don’t use “other people’s money.” When we acquire, we hold companies indefinitely (we’ve made 14 acquisitions and to this day we’ve held 100 percent of them). It’s a pleasure to watch AVI thrive, thank you to all of our customers and employee owners for making it possible.
Go AVI, go!! And, they’re here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
ClearOne Awarded New Patent Relating to Echo Cancellation With Beamforming Microphone Arrays ClearOne announced today that it has been awarded a new patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The USPTO issued patent number 9,854,101 to ClearOne. This patent, entitled “Methods and Apparatuses for Echo Cancellation with Beamforming Microphone Arrays,” among other things, describes a method to perform beamforming and echo cancellation using a direction of arrival determination to select which beamformed signals to transmit.
This new patent is part of ClearOne’s growing patent portfolio that currently includes over 100 patents and pending patent applications covering multiple new technologies in the fields of audio and video processing, audio and video streaming, and innovative communication technologies. ClearOne’s patents reinforce and protect its market leadership position, and demonstrate ClearOne’s ongoing ability to develop cutting-edge technologies and products.
Here is the actual patent application. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
MuxLab Debuts 4K60 Fiber Transmitter/Receiver and Controller SetThe MuxLab AV-over-IP 4K/60 (4:2:0) uncompressed extender uses fiber (model 500761) to route video over the network. It connects sources to displays through a 10Gig Ethernet Switch (SDVoE) and it supports both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. The systems’ transmitters and receivers can connect to the switch using OM4 multimode fiber cable, effectively transmitting up to 1,300 feet (400 meters) in distance so equipment can be stored far from the installation and accessed remotely.
Resolutions up to 4K/60 are supported when using both HDMI and DisplayPort. When uncompressed, zero latency video is delivered at 4K/60 (4:2:0). With light compression and visually lossless latency (less than one frame), video is delivered at 4K/60 (4:4:4).
Both transmitter and receiver come equipped with a 1G Ethernet Switch port to connect network devices. RS232 and IR provide remote control options. A wall-mount bracket kit is included.
When paired with MuxLab’s ProDigital Network Controller (model 500811), remote configuration and control of the entire AV over IP system is accomplished. Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
New Key Digital KD-VW4x4PRO Processor Aimed at Bar and Restaurant Applications Key Digital introduces the KD-VW4x4PRO — a processor with eight video wall modes include: four horizontal: 1×4 rotated, 1×4, 1×3 and two sets of 1×2; and three vertical: 4×1, 3×1, two sets of 2×1 and a typical 2×2 setup.
One of the most interesting features on the KD-VW4x4PRO is the product’s panel flip feature where integrators can install their top row of monitors upside down to reduce the gap in the middle of the video wall due to the thick bezel on the bottom of their consumer panels. This product is guaranteed to be the perfect fit for all applications with video walls up to four panels.
Four HDMI/VGA inputs accept digital/analog video and audio from computers, media players, set-top boxes and other sources. With the eight on-board video wall processing modes, the four outputs can be configured to display video from a single input over a four-output video wall.
The KD-VW4x4Pro has additional adjustments that can be made, such as bezel compensation, to fine-tune the video wall to fit different screen types or to perform edge-blending from multiple projector setups. Device control is achieved through a couple of simple user-friendly options including the front panel buttons, included wireless IR remote control, or via software through RS232 and Ethernet.
Here are the tech specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Key Digital Introduces VGA/HDMI Input Plate Extender KitKey Digital has introduced the KD-SX440WP wall plate HDBaseT/HDMI extender kit. The KD-SX440WP is a wall-plate input presentation switcher and extender kit ideal for professional video installations in conference rooms, huddle spaces, class rooms and more.
KD-SX440WP enables audio visual contractors to deliver a simplistic all-in-one presentation switcher, scaler and extender set for their clients. The transmit unit is a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing wall plate with HDMI and VGA plus audio inputs ideal for mounting on wall or in table pockets. End-users will have no trouble with their new technology as KD-SX440WP offers auto-switching and analog video scaling to ensure the presentation is a success.
KD-SX440WP is HDCP 2.2 compliant and consists of KD-SX440WPTx and KD-SX440Rx. 4K/UHD 24/25/30 (4:4:4) and 4K/UHD 60 (4:2:0) signals are extended up to 230 feet using a single Cat5e/6 cable. 1080p/60, 1920×1200 signals are extended up to 328 feet. In addition to AV signals, KD-SX440WP extends IR and RS232 for controlling remotely located equipment. The wall-plate unit (Tx) fits in a standard US dual-gang box and is powered by the Rx unit for convenient installation.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Arista Corporation Announces the RS-121 Rackmount Computer With an HDBaseT KVM Extender Arista Corporation announced the RS-121 — a 1RU Rackmount Computer with Integrated HDBaseT KVM Extender, designed for control rooms, live event production signage and AV rooms.
The RS-121 houses two swappable modules: the MicroBox-1100A-E01 computer module and the ARD-1006-A07-TX HDBaseT KVM transmitter module. These two modules are inter-connected internally via HDMI, USB and RS232.
Arista’s RS-121-E01 integrates an Intel Atom E3845 1.9GHz quad-core CPU and up to 8GB DDR3 memory. The system is capable to run either Microsoft Windows or the Open Source Linux operating system. Accessible ports on the front of the RS-121 include a four port USB 3.0 hub, dual Gigabit Ethernet, one RS232/422/485 BIOS selectable COM port, a CFast slot and a VGA port.
The HDBaseT transmitter module on the RS-121 provides an HDMI loop-out, a 2-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet pass through hub, plus a Power over HDBaseT output. With a single CAT6 cable, the unit transmits video signals, RS-232, USB and 10/100 Ethernet, as well as PoE. Equally notable, the RS-121 provides the ultimate integrator-friendly installation experience.
The Arista RS-121 will be available by the end of March 2018 for $845. Here are the tech specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Ships New 10″ Touchpanel Extron just started shipping their new TLP Pro 1025T 10″ Tabletop TouchLink Pro Touchpanel. Extron redesigned this touchpanel inside and out with a new quad-core processor, eight times more memory, a 1280×800 capacitive touchscreen built with scratch and smudge-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and a new enclosure design with a sweeping back. The TLP Pro 1025T also features the convenience of PoE — Power over Ethernet, which allows it to receive power and communication over a single Ethernet cable. It is ideal in any environment requiring a stylish, tabletop touchpanel with a fully-customizable interface.
The TLP Pro 1025T is built for today with an eye on the future. With its improved graphics engine, quad-core processor, and increased RAM, Extron says it allows for faster background graphic loads and page flips. All TouchLink Pro touchpanels can be customized using Extron GUI Designer software. And here are the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Sharp Launches New Displays with SoC (System on a Chip)Thanks to its built-in SoC (System on a Chip) controller, the new 40″ PN-B401 and 50″ PN-B501 LCD displays deliver out-of-the-box digital signage solutions. The PN-B displays offer great mounting flexibility and can be installed in landscape or portrait orientation, face-up, face-down or titled forward or backward at an angle of up to 90 degrees.
Features include:
- Built-in SoC: An integrated SoC controller, driven by the Arm Cortex-A17 quad core processor (max. 1.8 GHz) with 2 GB memory and 8 GB storage, integrates Android OS (4.4) for third-party Android platform apps.
- Flexibility: Whether in a landscape or portrait orientation, the displays can be installed face-up, face-down, or tilted forward or backward at an angle of up to 90 degrees. Designed for easy hanging installation, they can be suspended from four corners of the rear housing with wires.
- Expandability: They are equipped with an Intel Mini OPS-compatible expansion slot that provides for an optional HDBaseT receiver board (PN-ZB03H), wireless board (PN-ZB03W), or computing board (PN-ZB03AO). An optional wireless adaptor (PN-ZW01) is also available.
- SHARP Open Architecture Platform: The PN-B Series offers end users easy ways to download, store and play content directly from the display. Web-based digital signage content can be displayed by entering a URL in the embedded HTML5 browser, while videos and still images can be routed through the pre-installed media player. And for more advanced applications, leading Content Management Software providers have ported their Android-based application to run on the PN-B Series embedded SoC.
The PN-B401 and PN-B501 displays can be found here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
TASCAM Intros New Rackmount Analog MixersTASCAM has introduced the new MZ-223 and MZ-372, which are both rackmount analog mixers offering flexible inputs, mixing and routing. TASCAM says they are well suited for installs in small to mid-size venues such as restaurants, hotels, ballrooms, meeting rooms and schools, as well as residences.
The compact, 2U rack-mount TASCAM MZ-223 offers five audio channels, each with a dedicated Gain potentiometer and two stereo sets of RCA line-level inputs (ten RCA inputs, total), that can be mixed, segregated and routed to three independent zones or destinations. Channels 1 and 2 can also accommodate phono-level signals for use with a turntable, making the MZ-223 suitable for DJ and residential applications. Two convenient front-panel, balanced XLR inputs handle microphone signals.
Each of the MZ-223’s three stereo output zones present balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA line-level outputs, enabling long cable runs or connection to residential power amplifiers or powered speakers. A slider switches the RCA outputs between 0.75V and 1.5V. The MZ-223 also provides stereo unbalanced RCA master Record outputs, switchable for use with or without microphones, that enable recording the main mix to an external recording device for capturing events. With the MZ-223’s flexible design, for example, you could route music to Zone 1, ambient noise or natural sounds to Zone 2, and a separate music track or a voice announcement to Zone 3. The front panel also includes a ¼-inch stereo headphone output with level control.
An assortment of front-panel volume sliders, routing switches and buttons, EQ knobs and mute buttons enable simple, fast setup and operation. A Talkover function automatically lowers other source levels when microphones are in use.
The 3U rack-mount MZ-372 enables audio signals to be mixed, muted and routed to 2 redundant outputs or destinations. Each of its 6 audio channels has an independent volume control and features 2 stereo sets of unbalanced RCA line-level inputs (12 RCA inputs, total) and 6 balanced XLR mic/line (switchable) inputs on the rear panel, plus a mic-level XLR input on the front panel. Channels 1, 2, and 3 can be switched to accommodate phono-level signals for use with a turntable. A pair of unbalanced RCA Booth outputs provide an additional feed with independent control for monitoring and can be switched between stereo and mono operation.
Each of the MZ-372’s dual outputs offer balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA jacks, enabling long cable runs or connection to a main mixer and monitor mixer, professional power amplifier or residential power amplifier or powered speaker. A Talkover function automatically lowers other source levels when microphones are in use. A separate pair of unbalanced, line-level RCA recording outputs make it simple to capture events.
Like the MZ-223, the MZ-372 employs front-panel volume sliders, routing switches and buttons, EQ knobs, and mute buttons for simple, fast setup and operation. The front panel also includes a ¼-inch stereo headphone output with level control.
The TASCAM MZ-223 and MZ-372 are available immediately at TASCAM dealers at MAP/street prices of: MZ-223 $399.99 and MZ-372 $499.99. More information is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Fulcrum Acoustic Unveils Subcardioid Coaxial Loudspeaker Product Line Fulcrum Acoustic has launched the CCX12, a 12-Inch Subcardioid Coaxial Loudspeakers. Joining the CCX1295 (90° x 45°) announced last summer, the line now features a full range of horn patterns allowing coverage to be tailored for a wide range of applications. New models include the CCX1265 (60° x 45°), CCX1277 (75° x 75°), CCX1200 (100° x 100°) and CCX1226 (120° x 60°).
The CCX12 product family marks the first application of Fulcrum’s Passive Cardioid Technology in their extensive TQ Install line of versatile installation loudspeakers. CCX12 loudspeakers provide 9 dB of low frequency attenuation in the rear hemisphere without requiring additional cancellation drivers, amplifiers or signal processing channels.
Fulcrum Acoustic says the CCX12 subcardioid coaxial loudspeakers are effective for high-fidelity, foreground distributed systems, as well as for systems requiring targeted pattern control. Their unique trapezoidal shaped enclosures allow for mounting very close to ceilings with minimal effect on sight lines, which facilitates acceptance by interior designers and architects.
Details on the CCX12 loudspeakers are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Middle Atlantic Solves High-Density Cabling Challenges With Wider SR Series Pivoting Wall Rack Middle Atlantic Products has expanded its SR Series of Pivoting Wall Racks with a new wider model to provide integrators with more space to manage high-density cable bundles. Building on the successful SR Series platform, the new Wider SR Series saves valuable square footage over traditional floor-standing racks in AV, security, and data applications. The wider models include all of the advanced functionality of the SR Series, including a unique pivoting mechanism that opens 90 degrees, simplifying integrators’ access to rear equipment connections.
Originally developed to combine the advantages of a floor-standing enclosure and wall-mounted cabinet in one unit, the SR Series provides the easy rear access and space savings of a wall rack via a unique swing-out cabinet section that pivots on a weight-bearing floor base. The Wider SR Series takes into account that systems are evolving as equipment continues to increase in capability and decrease in size, offering integrators a different option for mounting systems closer to the point of use.
Within a seismic-certified enclosure, the new Wider SR Series Pivoting Wall Rack is available in 24 RU, 40 RU and 46 RU options. Featuring the SR Series’ unique pivoting floor base, this solution saves an average of nine square feet per cabinet, which is ideal for compact spaces that have a smaller footprint and do not require clearance at the rear of the cabinet, saving aisle space. The rack also incorporates Middle Atlantic’s built-in cable management and patented tool-free QuickMount system for center section mounting.
Here are the tech specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Ever Wondered If Anyone Would Provide a Simple Solution to Fix Bad Mic Levels on DSLR Cameras?Sescom just launched two DSLR attenuating line (with 43dB Pad) to mic level cables that provide properly matched mic level signals.
Sescom SES-43DB cables, featuring two conductor shielded cable, reduce professional two-volt line level audio signals from sources such as mixers, tape recorders and CD players by 43dB to an unbalanced DSLR microphone level input. Available in two models, with RCA male plugs or with XLR female plugs, both models are also terminated with a 3.5-millimeter stereo plug. The cable features Canare two-conductor shielded cable assembled with a slim profile Switchcraft TRS 3.5-mm stereo plug and two Rean RCA male plugs. Inside the Sescom SES-43DB-MZ2P is where the magic happens as Sescom’s exclusive circuitry on both audio channels reduces professional two-volt line level audio signals by 43dB to match the “sweet spot” of an unbalanced microphone level input. Its sleek low profile design avoids clunky XLR type attenuators that can produce heavy strain on the cameras mic input connector. These are worth $39. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
TechLogix Intros Fiber Cabling LineupTechLogix Networx is expanding its media over fiber optics lineup with a new offering of bulk fiber cabling, connectors and accessories.
The initial TechLogix fiber line includes riser-rated OM3 multimode fiber, plenum-rated OM3 multimode fiber, LC and SC style connectors, termination kits and test kits. All products are compatible with TechLogix’s existing line of HDMI extenders, USB extenders, DVI extenders, and AV over IP distribution systems.
TechLogix fiber cabling employs SSF technology to streamline the installation process by spec’d that it can handle a 220 lb. pull rating, has a micro bend radius and polymer coating ensuring cable integrity and safety when handling.
All the tech specs are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: We run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
Don’t like us? Then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send us feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to founder Gary at gary@ravepubs.com or Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
Everything we publish is opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship publication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition is co-published with CEDIA, covering the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
To read more about rAVe’s team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top |
Copyright 2018 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: Sara@rAVePubs.com
rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
|
|
|